Interruption of vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus with gamma B immunoglobulin in Christchurch.

This paper reports the results of administration of a course of three 1 ml intramuscular injections of anti-HBs immunoglobulin to the babies of HBsAg positive mothers recognised during pregnancy over a period 1982-1985. Fifty-nine hepatitis B surface antigen patients were detected during the four years of the study but only 29 were able to be followed up fully. The results of intervention, its efficacy and the problems associated with this are detailed.